New England Patriots edge the New York Jets in OT

The New England Patriots were dangerously close to losing their fourth close game on Sunday.

By Steven Sanchez

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Steven Sanchez

Posted Oct. 22, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 22, 2012 at 10:02 PM

By Steven Sanchez

Posted Oct. 22, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 22, 2012 at 10:02 PM

Foxboro

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The New England Patriots were dangerously close to losing their fourth close game on Sunday.

New York Jets place kicker Nick Folk booted his third field in the second half — a 43-yarder — late in the fourth quarter to give the hated J-E-T-S a three-point lead, 26-23, with just 1:37 remaining in the game.

Still enough time for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and placekicker Stephen Gostkowski.

Gostkowski kicked the tying field with no time in regulation and then a 48-yard field in overtime, enabling New England to escape defeat and beat the Jets in overtime, 29-26, before another sellout crowd at Gillette Stadium.

“We talked about playing 60 minutes and it took a little bit more than that tonight,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. “But the players did a good job and they fought. We had our ups and downs but in the end, we made just enough plays to win. We just have to keep working hard to get better.”

It seemed certain the Patriots (4-3) would lost their second straight lead in the fourth quarter after Devin McCourty lost the football on the kickoff just before the two-minute warning to give the Jets excellent field position. Earlier, McCourty had returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

But Brady did what he does best all his career — placed the team in great position.

Brady helped set up Gostkowski’s 43-yard field goal as time elapsed to send the game into overtime.

After winning the coin toss in OT, Brady quickly moved his team into position again and Gostkowski booted a 48-yard field to give New England a 29-26 lead.

The Jets had one last chance in the new overtime format but failed when Patriots defensive linemen Rob Nickovich and Jermaine Cunningham combined for a 15-yard sack, knocking the ball out of New York quarterback Mark Sanchez’ hand and recovered by Nickovich.

“My teammates saved my life today, I made a bad mistake in the fourth quarter” McCourty said. “I just have to do a better job on holding on to the football. This was a total team effort, we just keep fighting.”

Brady finished the game 26-of-42 for 259 yards with two touchdowns — both to tight end Rob Gronkowski.

“I think we executed better in those last two drives,” Brady said. “It really wasn’t our best day of execution in terms of assignments. We have to nail those things down. A lot of those inconsistencies, you don’t score points.”

Sanchez did everything in his power to attempt a Jets come from behind win.

The Jets quarterback finished 28-of-41 for 328 yards. He did throw an interception that cost New York (3-4) a chance of adding points on the board.

“We gave them too many opportunities,” Jets guard Brandon Moore said. “We did not play consistent.”

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The Patriots gained a total of 381 yards of offense — the 16th consecutive game in which they scored 350 yards or more to tie the NFL record with the St. Louis Rams (1999-2000).

“You know, the Patriots are not the type of team to beat themselves,” New York linebacker Calvin Pace said. “It just wasn’t good enough.”

The Jets won the coin toss and elected to defer the opening kickoff to the Patriots.

After New England punted on its first possession, New York drove 76 yards on 11 plays that was capped off by a one-yard run by Shonn Greene.

McCourty electrified the sellout crowd at Gillette by returning a kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 after Stephen Gostkowski’s extra point. It was the second longest kickoff return in franchise history’s behind Ellis Hobbs’ 108-yard return against the Jets in 2007.

After a New York punt, Brady drove the Patriots downfield 58 yards on seven plays which was capped off with a 17-yard touchdown strike to Gronkowski from Brady. Gostkowski’s extra point gave New England a 14-7 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Greene fumbled an exchange with Sanchez and the Jets quarterback kicked the ball out of the end zone after being pressured by Vince Wilfolk. The play resulted in a safety which gave the Patriots a 16-7 lead.

New England’s defense came up big midway through the quarter when cornerback Alfonzo Dennard intercepted Sanchez’ pass at the Patriots 2. Just before halftime, New England leading tackler this seasonJerod Mayo left the game with an injury. He later returned at the start of the third quarter.

The Jets tacked on a field goal right before halftime to slice the lead to 16-10.